Poland Seminary facts for kids

Poland Seminary, originally called Poland Academy, was the name for several schools in Poland, Ohio. These schools played an important role in the education of many young people in the area for over 70 years.

The First Poland Academy (1830-1845)

The very first Poland Academy started in 1830. A Presbyterian minister named Bradley opened it. He taught classes in a room above a general store. Students learned subjects like English, classical languages (like Latin and Greek), philosophy, and literature.

After five years, a man named Lynch took over the school. He moved it to a new spot on what became College Street. However, this first Academy closed in 1845. It ran out of money and could not continue.

The Second Academy and Poland Seminary (1849-1909)

New Schools Emerge

In 1849, new schools opened in Poland. Barnabus F. Lee started Lee's Girls Academy on College Street. At the same time, the Presbyterians opened a new Academy just for boys.

Lee's Girls Academy became an official school in 1854. It was renamed the Poland Female College. The school then moved into a bigger building.

Changes and Challenges

In 1855, the Boys' Academy building burned down. It was never rebuilt. The Female College, however, moved into a new, large brick building. Even though it was called the "Female College," it seems boys also started attending. Many important men from that time said they studied there. The school sometimes went by the name Poland Academy again. It was also known as the Poland Institute.

Other schools tried to open nearby. The Ohio Law College started in 1855 in the building the Female College had left. But it also struggled to find money. In 1859, it moved to Cleveland, Ohio. A Poland Medical College also briefly operated in the same building. It closed around the same time.

Famous Students and New Leadership

In the late 1850s, a future President of the United States attended the Academy. His name was William McKinley. He graduated from the school in 1859.

The school faced money problems again in 1862. A new group of leaders, called trustees, took over. They renamed the school Poland Seminary. They also paid off the old school's debts.

By 1871, the school was still struggling financially. The Presbytery of Mahoning (a church group) took control. They ran the school as the Poland Seminary School or Poland Union Seminary. It was a Christian school that taught students at a high school and junior college level. A dormitory was built for boys who came from out of town. Girls, however, had to find places to live in nearby private homes.

From 1881 to 1883, a famous journalist named Ida Tarbell was the head teacher, or preceptress, at Poland Seminary.

The End of Poland Seminary

In 1895, parts of the old school building collapsed. The rest of the building was torn down. A new building was then built on the same foundation.

The seminary continued to have difficulties. On June 21, 1909, the school was sold. It was bought by Poland's city school district. A special rule was made: the high school had to keep the name Poland Seminary. Today, that school is known as Poland Seminary High School.

Notable Alumni and Faculty

Many important people studied or taught at Poland Seminary, including:

• A. E. Lee - An Ohio state legislator (someone who makes laws for the state).
• William McKinley - The 25th President of the United States.
• Ida Tarbell - A famous journalist known for investigating important issues.